Grounding checks?
QWe sail a Dufour 34 on the east coast, and this season have had a number of light groundings in the sand and mud. None of these were of a sudden stop in nature, more a slowing, followed by a tack, or course change to take us off the soft seabed. Lifting the boat for winter recently, I noticed a fair amount of scuffing on the anti-foul on the keel that got me to wondering whether these light groundings might have any significant consequences. It is a pretty common event sailing the estuaries of the East Coast and I’m sure this won’t be our last light touch. Do I need to worry about potential long-term damage from these? Nigel Blackburn
ABen Suttcliffe-davies replies: It's easy to be lulled into a false sense of security if you've gone aground lightly on sand or mud. However, both can be like concrete underwater. Even if you are sailing slowly it can be an issue – the tidal stream rate, wave height and angle of heel all play a big role in how the craft fares. I’ve seen the aft edge of a lead keel bent into an S-shape after a yacht has grounded when upright.
That being said, I grew up on the East Coast and I do understand there is a difference between grounding lightly in mud compared to where I sail now. Generally, it shouldn’t be too much of an issue, but a prudent approach is better than ignoring it completely.
I’d start internally checking the keel matrix has no indication of detachment from where it is pasted in. Also look within lockers for signs of movement. If she is out of the water try to have her hung in strops for a while and see if there is any movement of the keel-hull joint. I did an article for Yachting Monthly on this topic back in 2013. Anything more than a light slide in mud should be checked at the earliest opportunity. Many East Coast sailors bump their keels almost every time they go sailing and think nothing of it –- the same is true of bilge-keelers which nearly always bump a bit as they take the ground. In both cases, experience is the key to knowing when to check for damage. Also, check your insurance policy as the cost of a lift and survey after a grounding is often covered.